TEMPE, Ariz. – Long-time football coaching veteran Dan Cozzetto, who has 39 years of coaching experience both at the collegiate and professional levels, will rejoin the Arizona State football program as a quality control assistant as announced today by Arizona State Head Football Coach Herm Edwards.
"We feel very fortunate to add someone with several decades of experience coaching at Arizona State and in the Pac-12 Conference," says Edwards. "Dan has enjoyed success wherever he has been in his career. I am eagerly looking forward to working closely with him and exchanging ideas and gaining his input."
This will be Cozzetto's third stint in Tempe, as he most recently served as ASU's tight ends coach for two seasons (2007-08) under head coach Dennis Erickson. Previously, Cozzetto spent eight seasons as the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach for Arizona State, orchestrating some of the most prolific offenses in school history between 1992 and 1999 under head coach Bruce Snyder. Cozzetto has been a member of the coaching staff for Arizona State's last two Pac-10 Championships (1996, 2007).
Cozzetto was in charge of the offense for the 11-1, 1996 Pac-10 Conference Champion and Rose Bowl participant Sun Devils that represented one of the most potent and dangerous offenses in school history, averaging 474.4 total yards-per-game and 42.6 points-per-game. Leading the way was quarterback Jake Plummer, a Heisman Trophy finalist and the Pac-10 Conference's Offensive Player of the Year, one of eight offensive players for ASU to earn All-Conference recognition. Additionally, Cozzetto mentored four offensive players to earn All-America honors, featuring tailback Terry Battle, Plummer, wide receiver Keith Poole and left tackle Juan Roque (Consensus All-America).
"I am elated to have the opportunity to come back to the place that I call my home," says Cozzetto. "With someone the caliber of Herm Edwards at the helm and the impressive staff he has assembled, I just hope that I can contribute in any capacity that they need me to. Our objective is to win the Pac-12 title and that will be my goal, to help the staff achieve that accomplishment. I have a lot of experience within the Pac-12 Conference and at ASU so I hope to put that experience to good use."
While at Arizona State, Cozzetto's offenses averaged 396.3 yards of total offense per game and Cozzetto guided a total of 20 offensive players, including eight offensive linemen, that were ultimately drafted onto NFL rosters. Marvel Smith, Levi Jones, Todd Heap, J.R. Redmond, Grey Ruegamer, Juan Roque, Terry Battle, Keith Poole and Scott Peters are just a few of the former Sun Devil greats that were drafted into the NFL during Cozzetto's tenure.
Most recently, Cozzetto spent a season on the Oregon State staff as an offensive consultant. Before that, he was the head coach put in charge of revitalizing the Phoenix College football program. He turned things around in a short period at the local junior college, taking a team that was winless in the previous two seasons before he got there, to five wins in just his second season at the helm.
After spending two seasons as the ASU tight ends coach and special teams coordinator, Cozzetto embarked on a successful run as the offensive line coach and run game coordinator for the University of Washington for five seasons (2009-13). While in Seattle, he directed an offense that paved the way for a 1,000-yard rusher in each of the five seasons. Under Cozzetto's tutelage, left tackle Senio Kelemete was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the 2012 NFL Draft.
Cozzetto got his start into coaching at the University of Idaho, where he spent 12 seasons. He originally served as the linebackers, wide receivers, and tight ends coach for three seasons before being elevated to offensive coordinator and eventually assistant head coach in charge of the offensive line. While at Idaho, Cozzetto coached future NFL star Mark Schlereth, who went on to play 12 seasons in the NFL and won three Super Bowls. During Cozzetto's tenure, the Vandals were Big Sky Champions five times and made a run into the third round of the Division I AA Playoffs on two separate occasions.
Throughout his career, Cozzetto coached teams that played in 12 bowl games at the FBS level and made the Division I AA Playoffs in six out of seven years when he was an assistant coach. Twenty-seven players that played for Cozzetto at one of his five stops were drafted into the NFL, including five first round draft picks.
Cozzetto brings 21 years of Pac-12 coaching experience at four different universities to Tempe, including stops as an assistant coach at Oregon State (2000-02) and California (1990-91). He also coached in the NFL for the San Francisco 49ers as the tight ends coach during the 2004 season. Tight end Eric Johnson had a breakout season under Cozzetto, leading the 49ers in receiving yards (825) and receptions (82).
The 1979 graduate of the University of Idaho received his degree in Secondary Education & Physical Education while earning a minor in Social Studies. He played football at Idaho from 1976-78 after transferring from Spokane Falls Community College. He attended Gonzaga Prep High School located in Spokane. Cozzetto and his wife, Debbie, have four kids, Adrian, Rachel, Ryan, and Tara.